The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-21
TIE Lag Expected Smith -Klrsrn Battle
Fought st Last Near Row'n.
The Men Fight Until the D.rkns,s Compsll
Them to End U.s Cantsst.
A Hundred and Six Vicious Rounds Fought
in Two Hours and 4 Hah.
The Bettiog, on Smith AT the Start, veers
Round ts the American-Tactics of
the Two Men-By Rounds.

LoNDoE, December 10 The Information
al CONTEXT between Jack Kilrain, of Bal
timore, and Jena Smith, of England, for
the difmond belt and the championship of
the world, took place on the Island Of st.
Pierre, on the river Seine, France, to-day,
in the presence of about 100 persons.
There was no police interference. g. w.
Atkinson, the referee, performed his
duties with satisfaction to all concerned.
Jem Smith was seconded by Jack Baldeck
and Jack Harper, and was attended by
Jem Howes and Dick Roberts. Jake Kill
rain was seconded by Charley Mitchell and
Ned DoBnelly, and IVES attended by Char
leg RoEell. Messrs. Fleming and Harding
acted as time keepers and umpires. Toe
light was remarkable for the persistent
wrestling of the men. In the fourth
round Smith was knocked nearly silly by
a smack on the ear. Though Smith had
the worst OF the falls, he fought splendidly
under great difficulties, and was as fresh as
KilTain when darkness stopped the fight
at1:45. One hundred and six rounds were
fought, lasting two and half hours.
The party left the Paris.Rousn train at
the village of Borsnieres, whencs they
tFamped across muddy fields and marshy
lands TO the river, where there was steam
launch lying alonside the bank.
Marquis of Queensbury, Sir Hugh Drum
mond, Hon. Mr.. Sandys and Captain Lee
barcer. The launch took all on board and
steamed to the scene selected for the fight.
There great difficulty was experienced sn
getting a good site for the ring on account
of the deep muo. Eventually an excellent
ring was pitched. Kilrain fought at 1S4
pounds and Smith at $50 pound. a heavier
weight than he has fought at heretofore
Smiths castor wss thrown into the ring
and was Immediately followed by Kilraine'
beaver.
The fight commenced at 2:10 p. m. It
was a lively and energetic battle for the
first three rounds-a quick give and take
with close sparring. In the fourth round
KilIsin got in, giving Smith a smash on
the ear which appeared to stun him.. In
the wrestling which formed a feature of a
number of succeeding rounds, Smith was
no match for the American. He had the
worst Of every fell, Kilrsin each time CON-
ing down heavily on his PROSTATE foe.
The tight was declared q draw. Tue men
reached Paris at q late hour tonight alter
q tedious journey.
The betting was on Smith at the start,
veeriDg to Kilrain later. There was much
wrestling instead of fitting. Smith had
the best at the start and forced the fight
ing. Kilrain had the advantage on the
wrestling In the eighteenth round Kill
swelling the size OF an egg ana knocking
him down. Kilrain's right eye was closed.
The fight yarled until the fifteenth round,
when Kilrain led until the
nineteenth, knocking down Smith
three times. and being knocked
down bimseh once. Smiths ear-swelling
burst, TO his great relief. After the nine
teenth round Smiths strength returned,
and be held mis- own. He had the best of
the last six rounds, both men fighting as
quickly and as strongly as at the START
The referee ordered that the fight De re.
sumed tomorrow, but later Smith and
kilrain expressed mutual respect for each
other, swore eternal friendship, agreed to
consider the fight a draw, and pledged
each other to fight Sullivan. The general
opinion is the fight was the gamest heavy
weight contest OF the present generation.
Smith was first to appear in the scene.
The men shook hands, and principals and
their seconds retired to their corners
Baldeck, who was Smiths principal Sec
ond, chose the corner which would give
his man the benefit of fighting with bis
back TO the sun, at this time shining bril-
hantly. The start was at 2:l2. Smith
crossing over to his opponent, offered TO
lay him f4O0 to 200 on himself, a similar
bet having been previously laid by a well
known Dublin sporting man, the taker be-
ing Charley Mitchell. The layer of the
odds quickly had the best of it, as seven to
two was Immediately afterwards laid to
minor sums on the Britisher.
Smith appeared in white knee-breeches
and emerald green socks, and looked a per-
feet Hercules. Kilrain wore black tights
and br1Wn socks, and although in point of
muse alar development ne compared unfa
yorably with his opponent, the American
bad decidedly the advantage in height,
and from head to heel looked the thorough
business-like fighter.
The preponderance OF Smiths supporters
justified the laying OF odds or the English
champion. Directly "time" was called.
the men responded. The American looked
serious, but determined, while Smith wore
his customary smile. The attitude OF
each wss totally different in style, Kilrain
carrying his right hand much lower than
his opponent, who seemed all on wires and
eager for the fray. The colors sDorted by
both men were largely worn by rival bands
OF spectators, those of Kilrain bearing the
stars and stripes, an Irish harp and a por-
trait Of himself, while Smith, inside of a
purple border, sported the Union Jack aud
the Royal standard, surmounted by the
typical sporting pelican.
Both men fought with remarkable en-
ergy and determination, and their seconds
encouraged them with the usual brisk,
boisferous badinsge peculiar to the ring.
KilKain's special tactics were speedily evil
dent. They consisted in closing with his
names soon a. possible, wrestling and fall
ing upon him. Come rounds only lasted
seven seconds, while others were prolonged
TO as many as twenty-three seconds.
Smith worked with splendid pluck and
took the punishment without wineiRg,
although Knocked clean down. At the
18Th rousd his slugging blows began te
tell heavily on Kikain's right eye.
vhieh was being rapidly banged up.
much in the fashion in which Sayers
treated Heezan in the fight long ago. As
q setrof. Kilrsin got well home with his
left on Smiths ear, which soon swslled up
70 abnormal siZe and had to be lanced By
the second. Kilrain's back-heeling
ut the Euish OF each round told
heavily on Smith, but, certainly. up TO
the fortieth round, when the men had been
fighting ffty minutes there was very little
70 choose between than. Before the fight
began, odds OF three and four to one were
freely laid on the Englishman, but sll the
bttfipR stopped es the fight